Can body blank folding machine



23, 1932- W.-E. BURNS I CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Aug, 1932 w. E. BURNS CAN B'ODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheei 2 Filed Jan. '27, 1928 w kw w m T W o W t/ T M T B m Aug. 23, 1932. w. E. BURNS 01m BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27; 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MLFRED LEI/Rue ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. w. E. B'URNS 01m Bony BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 11 Sheds-Sheet 4 q0 If 79" fig"; 7 75 4 7 45 ku I l 77 48 INVENTOR I I/ILFREP E BUR/v5 BY /6%% mfin' W TTORNEY Au 23, 1932. w, E BURNS 1,872,670

CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 l IFJ fi T 4 INVENTOR [Mu-WED 5.5031115 I ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. w. E. BURNS" 7 1,872,670

CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1925 11 $heets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ML FHA-"0 BURNS MVTKZMM/ ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. E. BURNS CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 11Sheets-Sheet 7 200 200 ,2 327x15 a. N7 2 3 L #75 {/2 #74, 77a /00 m0 m5 75 I 2/; 20/ M6 202 /9.5 \O, 204 (W W EF I: W i ll n33 rm 2/4 a v v g my I 2/6 I 2 l nk 2/5 I 27 I Z I l v P z INVENTOR I ATTORNEY 1932- w. E. BURNS CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 27, 1928 INVENTOR WILFHED EBU/PNS B WW ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. w. E. BURNS 1,872,670

( CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR M/IL /rED LBW/vs ATTORN EY Aug. 23, 1932. w, E. BURNS CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 l], Sheets-Sheet l0 ORNEY Aug. 23, 1932. w. E. BURNS CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 27, 1928 11 Sheets-Sheet ll INVENTOR l IL F8150 Efiumva Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE W'ILFRED E. BURNS, F BURLINGAME, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO M. J. B. ('10., A

- CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CAN BODY BLANK FOLDING MACHINE Application filed January 27, 1928. Serial No. 249,915.

This invention relates to can making machinery and has particular reference to a body blank folding machine to be used in conjunction with other machines in the manufacturing of can bodies that are characterized by an encircling fold adjacent one end with parallel, scored lines in the outer layer.

of the fold forming a tearing strip which, by use of a suitable key, may be torn out 0 shereby detach the end of the can from the As an explanatory statement, it will be stated here that. in the manufacture of bodies for cans of the above type a series of machines is employed; the first machine being that which prepares the body blanks; that is, it preforins the'blanks by rolling them about cylindrical rolls to break their stiffness, then again flattens them for passage through the machine to the mechanisms which notches their ends and forms the tongues and finally scores the blanks with parallel lines to provide the tearing strips of which the tongues are a continuation. The scored blanks are then delivered to a second machine, the sub-' ject of the present application, which operates to form them'with a triple fold adja cent one end with the tearing strip, as defined by the parallel, scored lines, contained in the outer layer within the limits of the fold. A third machine then receives the folded blanks. This machine notches, and flanges their ends, then forms them about the shaping horn and seams their flanged, edges together. The third machine is substantially that illustrated in United States Patent No. 1,543,460, dated June 23, 1925.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a smooth running, efficient and durable machine for folding the can body blanks with the triple fold and wherein the folding operation is performed by devices that are so arranged and designed that high speed of operation is possible.

More specifically stated, the invention residesiirthe provision of a machine into which the body blanks are fed, one at a time, by the action of reciprocating feed bars and are advanced thereby successively through various stations at which they are operated on by the fold forming mechanisms and are finally deliveredin a finished condition for passage to the'body forming machine.

Other objects of the invention reside in the various details of construction and in the combination of parts and in their mode of operation, as is hereinafter described.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can body blank folding machine embodied by the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, as connected with a body forming machine.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the receiving end of the machine.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional View, taken on line 4-4 in Figure 1, illustrating the feed mechanism whereby the blanks are delivered from the supply hopper into the machine.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail taken on line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional detail, on line 66 in Figure 1, through the first folding station.

Figure 7 is an enlarged, sectional detail, illustrating the positioning of the body blank at the first fold forming station with the folding bar at its lower limit of travel before it has act-ed on the body blank.

Figure 8 is a similar view, showing the fold forming action of the folding bar.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the machine, taken on line 99 in Figure 1, through the second fold forming station.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating the clamping of the blank at this station and the action of the folding devices.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view taken on line 11-11 in Figure 1, at the third fold forming station.

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the clamping of the body blank and the condition of the fold prior to the action th-ereagainst of the folding bar at this station.

Figure is an enlarged detail view showing the condition of the fold when the blank enters this station, with the body clamped and the fold flattening hammer in raised position.

Figure 16 is a similar view. with the fold flattened by the hammer.

Figure 17 is a cross sectional detail taken substantially on line 17-17 in Figure 1, showing machine driving mechanism.

Figure 18 is a cross section taken on line 18-48 in Fig. 1.,

Figure 19 is a sectional detail illustrating the delivery of blanks from the folding machine into the body machine.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the feed slide bars for feeding the body blanks from the supply hopper into the machine.

Figure 21 is a detail, sectional view of one of the feed fingers of the feed bar.

Figure 22 is a cross sectional view of the same as mounted.

Figure 23 is a perspective view showing body blanks at various stations to which they are successively advanced in passing through the machine, and the condition of the blanks at the different fold forming stations.

Figure 24 is a view showing the reciprocating feed bar whereby the body blanks are advanced through the machine.

Figure 25 is a perspective view of a folded blank as it leaves the folding machine.

In the present machine, the can body blanks of sheet metal are stacked in a storage hopper and are fed, one at a time, into the machine by the action of a set of feed bars which operates transversely of the longitudinal direction of the machine. These primary feed bars deliver the blanks successively into a guideway where they are taken up by a main feed bar which operates reciprocally to advance them successively through a plurality of stations at which they are operated on by fold forming devices and finally delivers them, with the fold completed, into the body forming machine. While it is very desirable from a manufacturingstandpoint that the body machine be connected with the folding machine so that the folded blanks may be delivered directly thereto without interruption, it is to be understood that this is not absolutely necessary to the folding since the folding machine herein described is complete in itself. However, the present drawings illustrate the folding machine as used in connection with the body machine and show a drive and control common to both. In the following description, the frame construction, the driving connections, the control and nevaevo feed devices will be described first and then the folding devices and their action on the blanks as the latter are delivered successively to the various fold forming stations will be described.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- 1. and 2 designate parallel, spaced, channel iron beams which extend the full length of the machine as supports for the presently described transversely disposed frame structures, by means of which the fold forming and other mechanisms are mounted. These beams, in turn, are suitably fixed, as by bolts 3, upon transversely disposed base bars 4 and, at the discharge end of the machine, to a base extension 5 of a body forming machine with which the present machine is associated.

in the present construction, there are several of the transverse frames and these are arranged at the required spaced intervals along the beams 1 and 2 for mounting the fold forming, feeding and'associated mechanisms and, as shown .best in Figure 1, they are designated by reference numerals 6, 7,

8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The main drive shaft 1 1 for the fold forming devices extends lengthwise of the machine through the frames 7 to 11 and these latter are provided with suitable bearings 15 within which the shaft is revolubly contained. At one end, the shaft 14 has a beveled gear wheel 16 fixed thereon in mesh with a beveled pinion 17 that is keyed on the end of a driving shaft 18; this latter shaft, as shown best in Figure 17, being mounted transversely of the machine and is supported at its inner end in a bearing 19, that is fixed to'the frame 11 and, at its outer end, in a bearing 20 provided at the upper end of a standard 21 that is mounted on the base extension 5 of the body forming machine. On theshaft 18, is a belt wheel 22, by means of which the shaft is driven and which is adapted to be operatively connected or released from driving connection with the shaft by shifting of a clutch device designated at 23.

In the present arrangement the folding machine and the body forming machine operate under the same control, with the control lever 25 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 located at the receiving end of the machine where it is fixed to one end of a rock shaft 26 that extends along the' beam 1 through suitable supporting bearings 27. At its other end, the shaft is provided with an arm 28 and this is connected by an upwardly directed link 29 with an arm 30 fixed on a shaft 31 rotatable in a bearing 32 in a bracket 33 supported from the cross frame 11. The shaft 31 has a yoke 34 keyed thereon that is operatively connected with a clutch shifting cone 35'on the shaft 18, and also has an arm 36 extending therefrom connected by a link 37 with the control lever 38 of the body forming machine; these connections being shown best in Figures 2, 3 and 17 The main drive shaft 40 of the body forming machine, as shown in Figure 2, extends parallel with the shaft 18, and it is driven from the latter shaft by means of a chain belt 41 that extends about sprocket wheels 42 and 43 that are fixed on the shafts 18 and .40, respectively. The control mechanism for these machines, as above described, is so arranged that both machines are driven through the belt wheel 22 and under the control of the lever 25, which may be actuated in opposite directions to shift the clutch 23 in or out of gear.

Fixed on the upper ends of the two transverse frames 6 and 7, at the receiving end of the machine, are housings 45 and 46, which together provide a guideway that is transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal line of the machine, and through which the body' blanks are advanced from a supply stack into the folding machine proper. These housings are adjustable from and toward each other to accommodate body blanks of different lengths and they are secured at adjusted positions by means of anchor bolts I 47 which have their heads contained within dove-tailed grooves 48 in the supporting frames, as shown in Figure 3.

The can body blanks 50 are stacked, preparatory to delivery into the machine, in a feed hopper 51 supported at the outer end of the housings 4 5 and 46. The stack of blanks 50 is supported upon two spaced fingers 52, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, that are fixed to a cross bar 53 extended between the housings. The means provided for feeding the blanks from the hopper into the guideway for delivery to the folding devices is as follows:

Reclprocally mounted in a bearing 55 that is fixed in the frame structure directly beneath the stack of body blanks, is a verticaltube 56 provided at its upper end with a rubber suction cup 57 that communicates with the tube. At its lower end the tube 56 is connected, by means of a flexible hose 58, with a pipe 59 which, in turn, connects at one end wlth a suction pump cylinder 60 that is fixed, as shown in Figure 3, to the'outside of the end frame6. A piston 61 is operable in the cylinder by means of a connecting rod 62 attached eccentrically by a pin 63 to a disc 64 that is fixed on the end of a short shaft 14a which is carried in a bearing 15a in the frame 6 in coaxial alinement with shaft 14 and, as presently described, is rotated with shaft 14. The lower end of the suction tube 56 is also connected, by means of a short link 65, with one end of a lever 66 supported at a point between its ends by a pin 67 that is fixed to'the end frame 6, The other end of the lever 66 carries a roller 68 that follows within a cam groove 69 formed eccentrically in the face of a disc 70 that is fixed on the shaft 14a.

Operating in synchronism with the vertical movement imparted to the suction tube by the connections above described, isa horizontal reciprocating feed slide 75, comprising two parallel bars 7 575 joined rigidly at their ends by cross webs 76. On the outside of these bars (see Figs. 4, 5 and 22) are ribs 77 fitted within guide grooves 78 in paired supporting rails 7 97 9 that are fixed in parallel relation Within the housings 45 and 46, and mounted on the upper edges of these bars in alinement are feed lugs 88. This feed slide is connected at its forward end by a pin 80 with links 81 which, in turn, are connected pivotally by a pin 82 with the upper end of a lever 83 that is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a shaft 84 that extends between supports fixed to the frames 6 and 7. This lever is attached, near its upper end, by a pivot bolt 85, to one end of a connecting rod 86 which, at its other end, is mounted on a crank pin 87 extended between a pair of coaxially arranged discs 89-89 fixed on the adjacent ends of the shafts 1414a, as shown in Figure 1.

The mechanisms above described provide that'upon rotation of the shafts l414a the lever 83 will be oscillated and this, through the connection of the links 81, will cause reciprocal action of the feed slide 75. Also,

there is caused a vertical, reciprocal action of the suction tube 56 by the connection provided with the cam disc 70 and this action first advances the suction cup 57 upwardly against the bottom body blank of the stack and then moves it downwardly, so that, incident to the suction created in the cup through the connection with the suction pump cylinder 60, the blank will be drawn downwardly at its center, as in Figure 5, away from the superposed blanks. Inward action of the feed slide then engages the feed lugs 88 thereon with the rear edge of the blank and it is pushed thereby from the stack into the guideway to the position of the blank designated at 50a in Figures 4 and 23. p

Also, connected with the feed slide 75, is a pair of parallel feed bars 90,90 for advancing the blanks, vfrom the position to.which they are moved by the lugs 88, on into the main guideway of the machine. These bars operate parallel with the feed slide 75 in guides 91 provided therefor in the housings 45 and 46, and they are fixed at their rearward ends to the ends of a cross bar 92 that is attached to the rear end of the feed slide 75, so that they reciprocate in accordance with the reciprocal actionv of the feed slide. At the forward ends of the feed bars 90, are spring pressed fingers 93 which, on retractive movement of the bars, pass beneath the blank just advanced to the position 50a so that, on the following outward movement of the bars, the shouldered ends of the fingers engage with the rearward edge of the blank and advance it into a guideway which extends lengthwise of the machine and along which the blanks are then moved for Operation thereon by the fold forming devices. The particular construction of these feed fingers will be described later on in connection with the main feed bar.

Over-lying this transverse guideway, is a cover plate 94 supported at one edge on a hinge pin 94a and at its inner end by a releasable pin 94?) that engages with a socket in a boss 95 fixed to the hopper frame.

Mounted upon the upper ends of the frames 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, and extending lengthwise of the machine, is a bed plate 96, of inverted, channel-like form, upon which the body blanks, after being delivered thereto by the transversely reciprocating feed slide and bars 90, are advanced by a plurality of intermittent movements to the several folding stations. This bed plate is provided, along its side edges, with guide bars 97 and 98 which form a guideway for the advanced blanks and, centrally in its upper surface, the plate 96 has a groove 99 therein in which a feed bar 100 is reciprocally contained. This feed bar is reciprocated, by connection at one end with a slide 101 that is operable as shown in Figure l on a guide rail 102 fixed in the frame as a continuation from the bar 96, between the frames 11 and 12. The slide is connected, by means of a link 103, with the upper end of a lever 10% mounted pivotally at its lower end on shaft 105, as shown in Figure 1, and connected, by means of a link 106, with an eccentric pin 10? on a gear wheel 108supported in the lower part of the frame on a transverse shaft 109 and driven by a gear 110 on the shaft 18. The timing of these gears is such that the feed bar 100 is synchronised with the reciprocal action of the feed sii-de 75 and the body blanks that are. delivered by the latter will be taken'up and advanced. without interruption through the several folding stations and finally delivered into the body machine.

In Figure 23, I have shown body blanks as advanced through the several stations from the supply hopper to the delivery end of the machine, and have illustrated the folded condition of the blanks at the several folding stations.

In Figure 24 is shown the construction of the feed bar 100, whereby the blanks are advanced along the guideway through the several folding stations. This bar, at equally spaced intervals, has yieldable feed fingers 112 thereon for engagement with the rearward edges of the blanks to advance them successively from station to station with each forward movement of the bar. As shown in Figures 21 and 24, each feed finger is pivotally mounted at one end within a mounting block 113 that is fixed to the lower section 100'- of the bar. At their forward ends, the fingers have shoulders 115 adapted to engage with the blanks for advancing them and, below the shoulder, each finger is provided with an extended lip 116 adapted to engage with a stop 117 in the block to limit the upward movement of the finger. The shouldered ends of the fingers are adapted to swing downwardly into pockets 118 in the mounting blocks to permit the required depression of the fingers for passage beneath the following blanks when the bar is retracted, and the fingers are urged upwardly and are normally retained in an extended position, as in Figure 21, by means of coiled springs 119 located within bores 120 in the blocks and bearing against pins 121 which press against shouldered portions 122 on the pivoted ends of the fingers.

By reason of the fact that the blanks, when delivered from the folding machine into the body machine, are brought into engagement with a positive stop, as designated at 123 in Figure 19, and it is desired that they be held there momentarily until engage-d by a clamp bar in the body machine, the last feed finger on the bar 100 is carried in a block 113 which, as shown in Figure 21, has a slight longitudinal movement with respect to the feed bar. The spring 119, in this particular block, bears against the end of the pocket in which the block is contained and serves not only to retain the finger in extended position but also normally retains the block in its advance position but permits it to yield rearwardly during the final advance movement of the bar after the blank has engaged with its limiting stop. During the yielding movement of the block in the feed bar, a clamp device of the body machine engages the blank,

When the body blanks are forwarded from position 506:, as shown in Figure 23, they are delivered into the main guideway formed on. the bed plate 98 to the position of the bi; l 505. Then, incident to successive recipr: movements of the main feed bar 100, the blanks are advanced through the various stations designated at 500,-5061, 50e, 50f, 50g and 50k; the last position being that within the body forming machine. The first fold forming station is that designated at 50c and the mechanism at this station and its action on on the blanks is shown in Figuresfi, 7 and 8, wherein designates a clamp bar fixed to the ends of a pair of clamping levers fl31. 131 that extend over the bed plate from a sleeve 132 rotatable on a supporting shaft 133; the latter being mounted in bearings 134-4135 fixed to the frames 7 and 8. E2:- tending downwardly from the sleeve 132 is a lever 136 equipped at its lower end with roller 137, that has rolling contact with a cam wheel 138 eccentrically mounted on shaft 14. A plunger 139, mounted in a 140 fixed to frame 8 and pressed outwardly by a spring 141, bears against the lever 136 to hold the roller against the cam surface.

The action of the cam is timed with action of the feed bar 100 to cause the clamp bar to be brought down tightly against the body blank when it is advanced to this station to hold it secure for the first fold forming operation.

The clamp bar is of a novel construction so that a certain retaining pressure will be maintained at all times against the blanks to prevent their overrunning the positions to which they are advanced by action of the feed bar. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, along the lower edge of the clamping bar 130 is a second bar 130a that is mounted by a plurality of bolts 142 which are slidable in the bar 130, and interposed between the bars 130 130a are coiled springs 143, see Figure 7, which press the bar 130a downwardly. The pressure of these springs is slight and does not interfere with movement of the blanks by the feed bar. This retaining pressure of bar 130a is supplemented by a second bar 144 located adjacent the inner edge of the blank carried by 'studs 145 slidable in bores 145a in the clamp arms 131 with coiled springs 146 wound about the studs and bearing downw'ardly against the bar.

V'Vhen entering this first forming station the blank is perfectly flat, and the clamp bar 130a, which is parallel to the edge of the blank, is clamped against it at a certain spaced distance within its outer edge, as is shown in Figure 7. This outer edge portion of the blank is then bent upwardly at a right angle, as shown in Figure 8, by the upward action thereagainst of a folding bar 148 fixed to the upper end of a slide 149 mounted for vertical reciprocal action on a supporting plate 150 that is fixed to the frames 7 and 8. This slide is attached by a pin 151 to a connecting rod 152 mounted on an eccentric journal 153 of the shaft 14 and the action of the slide is so timed with the clamp movement that just following the clamping action of the bar 130 against the body blank, the bar 148 will engage the free edge of the blank and will cause the latter to be folded upwardly as shown in Figure 8; the line of the fold being at the outer clamping edge of the clamping bar 180a.

As the slide 149 moves downwardly and the pressure of clamp bar 130 is removed from the blank, it is advanced by a forward movement of the feed bar 100 to the second fold forming station, that being the station 60d in Figure 28, where it is again operated on by devices as shown in Figures 9 and 10 wherein 160 designates a forming plate that is set within the bed plate so as to be flush with the top surface of the latter and parallel with the edge of the body blank. This forming plate is'provided With an upstand- 65 ing rib 161 that extends the length of the piece and which has a vertical inner face 161a and an outwardly and downwardly inclined outer face 161?). When the body blank is advanced to this station the upturned flange formed in the previous station is disposed flatly against the vertical face 161a where it is tightly clamped, as shown in Fig. 10, by the action thereagainst of a clamp bar 164 that is carried at the ends of a pair of clamping levers 165165 which extend across the bed plate from a sleeve 166 revoluble on a supporting shaft 167 mounted at its ends in supporting bearings 168 and 169 fixed on the frames 8 and 9. A lever 170 extends downwardly from this sleeve and at its end is a roller 171 that has rolling contact with an eccentric cam 172 on the shaft 14. A spring pressed plunger 174, slidably mounted in a bearing 175 fixed to frame 9, bears against the lever 170 to hold the roller against the cam so that, incident to rotation of the shaft 14, the clamp bar will be actuated against and from body blanks delivered to this station on the bed plate. This clamp bar 164 also is equipped along its under side with a base bar 164a which is yieldably mounted in the same manner as bar 130a at the first folding station by means of bolts 176 extended through bar 164 and springs 177 disposed between the bars. The clamp bar 164a engages flatly against the blank and also against the upturned flange to hold the latter tightly against the rib of the forming plate 160. That portion of the upturned flange that extends above the rib is then folded downwardly over the rib as shown in Figure 10 by the action thereagainst of afolding bar 180 that is carried at the ends of a pair of levers 181181 on a supporting shaft 182 which, at its ends, is mounted in bearings 183184 at the upper ends of the brackets 185-486 fixed to frames 8 and 9. These levers haveoutwardly extending arms 187 attached bya pin 188 with the upper end of a connecting rod 189 which at its lower end is mounted on an eccentric journal 190 of shaft 14. This connection is so timed with the clamp bar action that, after the blank has been clamped as in Figure 10, the folding bar 180 is swung downwardly from the dotted line position of Figure 10 to the full line position and in this movement its tapered forward edge engages with that portion of the flange of the blank that extends above the rib 161 of the lower forming bar and folds it downwardly against the sloping outer face of the rib at a 45 degree bend.

It will be mentioned here that this fold is made parallel with and just below the lower line of scoring with which the blanks are provided for the formation of a tearing strip.

After this-folding operation, the clamp bar 164 is released from the blank and the folding bar 180 swings upwardly and clear of the flange; the blank thereby being released for advancement at this time to the third fold forming station, as at 50c, where it is acted on by mechanisms as best shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13, wherein 195 designates a forming plate that is set Within the bed plate flush with the top of the latter, parallel with the direction of travel of the blank and which is provided at its outer edge with an upstanding rib 196 with a vertical inner face 197 that is accurately alined with the vertical face of the plate 160 at the previous station, and an inclined outer face 198. As the body blank is advanced to this station, the vertical flange previously formed in the blank engages against the inner face of the rib 196 which serves as a guide therefor. The blank, when advanced to this station, is clamped against the forming plate by the action of a clamping bar 199 mounted at the ends of a pair of clamping levers 200 extending from a sleeve 201 revoluble on a supporting shaft 202 carried at its ends in bearings 203-204 on frames 9 and 10. A lever 205 extends downwardly from the sleeve and at its end has a roller 206 in rolling contact with an eccentric cam 207 on the shaft 14:. A spring pressed plunger 208 mounted in a bearing 209 fixed to frame 10 engages the lever 205 to hold the roller against its cam so that, incident to rotation of the shaft 14, the clamp bar will be actuated from and against the body blanks delivered to this station.

lhis clamp bar 199 has a lower yieldable portion 199a which is spring pressed, in the same manner as the corresponding parts of clamps previously described,.to frictionally engage the blanks. It will also be mentioned here that the pressure bar 1%, described in connection with the first folding devices of Figures 6, 7 and 8, extends the length of the machine, and this acts also to prevent movement of the blanks in the guideway except under forwarding action of the feed bar.

Un the forward edge of the clamp bar 199a is a tapered toe 1996 which at its point engages the inner side of the upturned flange of the blank at the first fold and presses the blank tightly against the rib 196 of the plate 195. The upper surface of this toe is inclined at an angle of approximately degrees, and after the blank has been engaged by this clamp, the folded portion of the blank is flattened against this surface by a folding bar 212 carried by a pair of lever arms 213 mounted on a supporting shaft 214: carried at its ends in bearings 215 216 fixed to the forward edges of frames 9 and 10. Arms 217 extend downwardly from these levers and are attached by a pivot pin 218 with a connecting rod 219 mounted on an eccentric journal 220 of the shaft 14:, so that, incident to rotationof the shaft 1 1, the clamp bar 212 will be actuated from position as in Figure 12 toposition of Figure 13 to press the partially folded portion of the blank inwardly.

The bar 212 has an inclined under surface 212a corresponding to the opposed surfaces of bar 196 and the toe of clamp bar 199a, and this engages the fold to form it inwardly to the overlapped relation in which it is shown in Figure 13.

After this folding action, the forming bar 212 moves outwardly and the clamp bar 199 lifts upwardly to release the blank for advancement to the last folding station, as at in Figure 2 3, where the fold is flattened by devices as shown best in Figures 14, 15, and 16 wherein 215 designates a clamp bar section carried by the levers 200. This bar engages the blank, by action of the clamping leier 205 operated by cam 207 previously described, and holds the blank flatly against the bed plate, as in Figure 15, with the folded portion overlying an anvil plate 218 set in the upper face of the bed plate 96. Mounted in a plate 220 fixed to the forward edges of frames 10 and 11, is a vertically reciprocating slide plate 221 which, at its upper end, carries a hammer bar 222 with a flat lower surface that is adapted, on downward movement of the slide, to be brought against the fold of the blank to flatten it out, as shown in Figure 16. This slide is operated by connection at its lower end with a connecting rod 225 which is mounted on an eccentric journal 226 of shaft 14:. After this flattening action by the hammer bar 222, the slide moves upwardly as the clamp bar 215 is released and the feed bar operates to advance the blank to the idle station, 500, and on the following advance movement of the guideway 230, see Figs. 1 and 19, of the body forming machine. After entering the body machine, the blank is advanced and operated on to form it into a cylindrical body.

By constructing the folding machine in the manner described and by providing the four stage folding operation, high. speed is possible without any excessive strain on the forming mechanisms. The machine also is so arranged that (.311 be easily connected up with the body machine and both operated and controlled by a unit mechanism.

I claim:

1. In a blank folding machine, a guideway, means for advancing blanks in succession along the guideway, and a series of fold forming devices successively operable on the blanks as advanced along the guideway to form each with a plural layer fold; the first device of said series comprising means for bending an edge of the blank laterally; the second device comprising means for forming a fold in the laterally bent portion; and the third device comprising means operable against the folded parts to press them inwardly toward the blank body.

2. In a blank folding machine, a guideway, means for advancing blanks in succession along the guideway, and a series of til) lUG

fold forming devices successively operable on the blanks as advanced along the guideway to form each with a plural layer fold; the first device of said series comprising means for bending an edge of the blank laterally; the second device comprising means for forming a foldin the laterally bent portion; the third device comprising means operable against the folded parts to press them inwardly toward the blank body; and the last device of the series comprising means operable against the fold to flatten and close the layers thereof together against the body.

3. In a folding machine of the character described, a guideway, means for feeding blanks to be folded into the guideway and for advancing them intermittently through a plurality of stations and a series of fold forming mechanisms arranged at successive stations and comprising means at the first station for folding one edge portion of the blank upwardly at a right angle to the body of the blank, the second station mechanism comprising means for bending the upper longitudinal portion of the laterally folded edge outwardly and downwardly at an angle, so that the width of the upturned portion will then be less than the width of the downturned portion, the third station mechanism comprising means for pressing the fold in wardly toward the body and the last station mechanism comprising means for flattening the fold against the body.

4. In a blank folding machine, a guideway along which blanks to be folded may be advanced, a plural station fold forming device and means operable to advance blanks along the guideway and successively to the stations of the fold forming device; said device comprising, at the first station, a clamp bar operable against the blank in spaced relation to one edge thereof, and a forming bar operable against the blank to bend the free edge portion laterally at a right angle to the blank body and, at following stations, comprising means for folding the outer edge of the laterally bent portion back at an acute angle to the inner portion, for then pressing the fold inwardly toward the body and a hammer for bumping the fold to flatten it against the body.

5. In a blank folding machine, a guideway along which blanks to be folded may be advanced, a plural station fold forming device and means operable to advance blanks along the guideway successively to the stations of the fold forming device; said device com prising at the first station, means for bending an edge portion of the blank laterally at a right angle to the body portion; at the second station, a clamp bar and a forming bar'adapted respectively to tightly engage the blank at inner and outer sides of the laterally bent portion; said forming bar having a height of less than half that of the laterally turned portion, and an. oscillating forming bar operable against the outer edge of'the laterally turned portion to fold it back along the edge of the forming bar at an acute angle; and comprising at successive stations, means for bending the fold inwardly and for flattening it against the body of the blank.

6. In a blank folding machine, a guideway, a plural station fold forming device and a feed mechanism for advancing blanks to be folded successively to the stations of the fold forming device; said device comprising at the first station, means for bending an edge of the blank laterally; at the second station, means for bending the outer edge of this back at an acute angle; at the third station, comprising a clamp bar and a forming bar engageable tightly with the blank at inner and outer sides of the lateral portion and a forming bar operable against the fold formed at the prior stations to bend it inwardly toward the body and at the last station, a hammer for flattening the fold against the body.

7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the fold forming mechanism at the first station comprises a clamp bar engageable with the blank within the edge thereof to define the fold, and having a flat surface at a right angle to the blank, and a reciprocating bar operable against the free edge of the blank to bend it laterally against the said flat surface.

8. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the fold forming mechanism at the second station comprises clamp bars engageable respectively with inner and outer sides of the laterally bent flange resulting from the first station operation, but leaving the upper edge portion of the flange free, the outer bar having its top surface beveled downwardly from theflange and a forming bar operable in a downward direction against the free portion of the flange to bend it back against the beveled surface.

9. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the fold forming mechanism at the third station comprises a' clampin shoe engageable with the blank along the ase of the lateral flange and having its top surface inwardly beveled from the edge thereof, a. guide bar engaging the flange at the outside adjacent the base thereof, and having a downwardly beveled top surface, and a forming bar movable inwardly against the folded parts of the positioned, and a reciprocating hammer with the flat surface movable against the fold to flatten the layers thereof together and against the body.

11. In a blank folding machine, a guideway, means for advancing blanks in succession by intermittent movements along the guideway, clamping devices operable against the blanks during their periods of rest, and a series of fold forming devices co-operating with the clamping devices during successive periods of rest to form each with a triple layer fold; the several devices of said series operating in order respectively, to first fold an edge portion of the blank laterally thence to fold back the outer edge of the laterally turned portions; thence to press the folded parts inwardly toward the body and finally to flatten the fold against the body.

12. In a blank folding machine, a guideway, means for advancing blanks by intermittent movements in succession along the guideway through a plurality of stations, clamping devices at the several stations operable against the blanks during their periods of rest to define the fold and arranged to em gage the blanks within the edges thereof to leave the edge portions free for folding, and a series of fold forming devices at the several stations successively operable on the free edges of the blanks to form each with a plural layer fold; the several devices operating in succession respectively; first, to fold an edge portion of the blank upwardly; thence to fold back the outer edge of the lateral portion; thence to press the folded parts inwardly toward the body; thence to flatten the fold against the body.

13. In a blank folding machine, in combination a guideway, reciprocating meansfor simultaneously advancing a plurality of blanks in succession to a plurality of stations along the guideway, and a series of fold forming devices arranged along the guideway at the various stations for operation on the blanks successively to form each with a triple layer fold; the first of said devices comprising means for bending an edge portion of the blank laterally; the second mechanism comprising means for folding the laterally bent flange back upon itself the third mechanism comprising means whereby the folded portions are pressed inwardly toward the blank body; and the last mechanism comprising means 'for'flattening the fold against the body: and a driving means common to all of the fold forming devices and through which they are simultaneously actuated between the periods of advancement of the blanks.

14. In a blank folding machine. a guideway. a reciprocating feed bar operable on each advance movement to successively advance a plurality of blanks along the guideway through a plurality of stations, clamping devices at the various stationssimultaneously ,eve

operable against the blanks during retractive movement of the feed bar, and a series of fold forming devices arranged at successive stations along the guideway for operation on the blanks during periods of rest to form each with a triple fold and a driven member having operative connection with the various fold forming devices and with the various clamping devices and feed bar whereby the clamping devices are simultaneously moved into clamping positions and the fold forming devices are simultaneously actuated during retractive movements of the feed bar, said fold forming devices operating on the blanks as they are successively delivered thereto; the first to fold an edge portion of the blank upwardly; the second to bend the upwardly folded portion back upon itself; the third to bend the fold inwardly toward the body; and the last to flatten the fold against the body.

15. In a blank folding machine, a guideway, means for advancing blanks along the guideway, a plurality of devices arranged at succcs sive stations along the guideway for operation on the blanks and together serving to form each with a triple fold; the first of said devices comprising a clamping bar operable against one face of the blank within an edge thereof, and a reciprocating slide operable against the edge portion to turn it laterally; the second device comprising a forming bar with a vertical shoulder against which the laterally turned portion of the blank will abut and a downwardly and outwardly inclined surface beyond which the laterally turned portion of the blank extends, a clamping bar operable against the blank and against the lower part of the laterally turned portion thereof in opposed relation to the vertical shoulder and an oscillating bar operable against the projecting portion of the flange to bend it back against said inclined face of the forming bar; the third device comprising a shouldered guide bar for engaging the base of the laterally turned flange and a clamping shoe engageable with the blank and against the laterally turned flange to clamp it against the guide bar and an oscillating bar engageable against the back-turned flange to press the fold inwardly against the shoe; and the last station comprising a clamping bar operable against the blank and a reciprocating hammer operable against the fold to tightly close it.

16. In a machine of the character described, a guideway, means for supporting a supply of oblong blanks in stacked relation adjacent the guideway with the longitudinal edges of the blanks parallel to the guideway, a feed mechanism whereby blanks are delivered from the base of the stack, one at a time into the guideway, a reciprocating feed bar operable to deliver the blanks endwise by intermittent movements to successive stations along the guideway, clamp bars at the various stations operable against the blanks during their periods of rest, and a series of fold forming mechanisms operable on the blanks at successive stations to form each with a triple layer fold, and a driven element having operative connection with the blank feeding means, the clamp bars and the forming mechanisms, whereby they are driven-in synchronism; said fold forming mechanism comprising, at the first station means for bending an edge of the blank laterally; at the second station, means for folding the lateral portion back; at the third station, means for pressing the fold inwardly toward the body;

and at the final station, means for flattening the fold against the body v Signed at San Francisco, California, this 21st day of January, 1928.

'ILFRED E. BURNS. 

